Knightmare's AFL Draft Power Rankings: August

Christopher Doerre has been writing phantom drafts and draft profiles since 2009, and also has a longstanding passion for list management. He continues to develop his knowledge as he observes new trends and opportunities within the AFL Draft and recruiting landscape. He can be found at junior games most weekends through the football season, casting his eye over the next generation of AFL stars. He also spends time watching match vision, analysing stats and talking to industry sources to ensure he can offer the most insightful draft analysis.

Best position: General forward/inside midfielderHeight, weight: 187cm, 88kgRecruited from: Western JetsProjected draft range: top fiveSimilar to: Dustin MartinJuly Ranking: 1Rationale: Contested-ball winning beast who is hitting the scoreboard in bunches. Rayner is this year's most dominant performer.Strengths:
Damaging both as a forward and midfielder
Aggression
Scoreboard impact
Strength
Powerful fend-off
Can burst through tackles at speed or stand up through tackles and deliver handball to target
Clean at ground level
Contested-ball winning
Clearances
Draws free kicks
Explosive pace
Evasiveness in traffic
High leap
Tackles with force
Plays with desperation and provides second and third efforts
Powerful and damaging kick over distance
Vision
Decision-making
One-on-one marking
Marking threat on the lead
Aerial marking
Production
Big game performerWeaknesses:
Endurance
Set shot goalkicking

Cameron Rayner is in the mix to be drafted at No.1 this year. Paul Kane/Getty Images

2. Paddy Dow (VIC)

Best position: Inside midfieldHeight, weight: 184cm, 78kgRecruited from: Bendigo PioneersProjected draft range: first roundSimilar to: Luke ShueyJuly Ranking: 2Rationale: Possesses a winning mix of attributes and impact per possession through the midfield with contested-ball winning, acceleration from the contest and skillset. Under-18 Championships performances have made clear that he is a top-end prospect. May be the best midfielder in this draft.Strengths:
First possession winner at coalface
Stoppage work
Wins clearances
Burst out of stoppages at speed
Acceleration
Desperation
Tackling
Clean skills
Lowers eyes
Composure in traffic
Evasiveness
High impact per possession
Scoreboard impactWeaknesses:
Needs to find more of the ball

3. Adam Cerra (VIC)

Best position: Inside midfielderHeight, weight: 186cm, 85kgRecruited from: Eastern RangesProjected draft range: first roundSimilar to: Trent CotchinJuly Ranking: 6Rationale: Despite missing much of 2017 with a meniscus injury in his knee, he is performing strongly. He's winning clearances, first possession at stoppages and displaying class and clean ball use. One of this year's best midfielders.Strengths:
Contested-ball winning
Stoppage work
Wins clearances
Stands up through tackles
Strong build
Production
Strong mark overhead
One-on-one marking
Clean at ground level
Clean ball user
Decision-making
Vision
Composure under pressure
Production
Evasiveness
Endurance
Work rate
Best suited through midfield but can also be utilised down back or up forwardWeaknesses:
Acceleration

Best position: Inside midfield/general forwardHeight, weight: 187cm, 85kgRecruited from: Dandenong StingraysProjected draft range: top fiveSimilar to: Ollie WinesJuly Ranking: 3Rationale: Slight drop with below expectation Under-18 Championships performances.Strengths:
Stoppage work
Contested-ball winning
Reading of ruck taps
Gets to best spots at stoppages
Clearances
Explosive 10m burst of speed to break away from contest
Clean at ground level
Vision
Decision-making
Quick hands in close
Scoreboard impact
Overhead marking
Strength
Strength through core and hips to keep his feet in the contest and stands up through tackles
Midfielder with versatility to play forward or back
Has played his best football against more mature bodiesWeaknesses:
Placement of kicks mildly inconsistent
Can have quiet games or quiet patches in games

5. Jarrod Brander (VIC)
Best position: Key forward/key defenceHeight, weight: 195cm, 83kgRecruited from: Bendigo PioneersProjected draft range: top 10Similar to: Josh BruceJuly Ranking: 5Rationale: Possesses attributes to suggest he could develop at either end of the field.Strengths:
Clean at ground level
Agility
Pace
Endurance
Work rate
Marking threat on the lead
Strong hands overhead
Contested marking
Intercept marking
Clean field kick
Stands up through tackles
Versatility to play key forward or key defenceWeaknesses:
Conversion in front of goal
Can struggle down back to contain key forwards

Hunter Clark has added a harder edge to his game this year after being an outside mid in 2016 and could be a first-round pick. Our AFL draft expert Christopher Doerre - aka Knightmare - assesses all the most promising draft prospects.

Best position: Key forward/key defenceHeight, weight: 194cm, 92kgRecruited from: Calder CannonsProjected draft range: first to second roundSimilar to: Jonathon MarshJuly Ranking: 10Rationale: Has had some big performances but also is lacks consistency from game to game. Rises with Will Sutherland dropping out of draft and Callum Coleman-Jones and Darcy Fogarty out for season.Strengths:
Freakishly clean and one touch at ground level
Pace
Breaks the lines
Agility
Leap
Strength
Contested marking
Difficult to contain on the lead or leaping up at the football
Takes marks at full stretch
Stands up through tackles
Tackling
Scoreboard impact
Versatility to play either end well
Possible scope to develop into a tall midfielderWeaknesses:
Unclear best position
Inconsistent performances
Football smarts

8. Aaron Naughton (WA)

Best position: Key defenceHeight, weight: 194cm, 84kgRecruited from: Peel ThunderProjected draft range: first to second roundSimilar to: Jack HombschJuly Ranking: Not rankedRationale: Has transitioned to playing WAFL League football over the past month. His averages of 19 disposals and 10 marks over his three games so far have been outstanding and sees Naughton's draft stocks rise.Strengths:
Intercept marking
Strong hands overhead
Reading the flight of the ball early
Football smarts
Contested marking
One-on-one marking
Keeps his feet in the contest
Agility
Acceleration
WAFL League performancesWeaknesses:
Kicking while reliable enough is of a high, loopy style which is too easily intercepted

Best position: UtilityHeight, weight: 192cm, 88kgRecruited from: GlenelgProjected draft range: first roundSimilar to: Jack DarlingJuly Ranking: 10Rationale: Out for the season with a small meniscus tear he carried through the Under-18 Championships. Lack of a clear best position and below expectation 2017 performances sees Fogarty rated here despite early season hype.Strengths:
Strength
Contested-ball winning
Clearances
Contested marking
Body-on-body strength
Fend-offs
Stands up through tackles
Courage
Competitiveness
Versatility to play anywhere other than ruck
Scoreboard impact
Clean ball user by hand and foot
Vision
Decision making
High leap
Evasion
AgilityWeaknesses:
Endurance
Unclear best position
Production
Inconsistent performances
Poor Under-18 Championships

11. Brayden Crossley (QLD - Gold Coast Academy)

Best position: RuckHeight, weight: 198cm, 105kgRecruited from: Labrador TigersProjected draft range: second round onwardsSimilar to: Braydon PreussJuly Ranking: 16Rationale: Strength in the ruck combined with his rare followup work by position gives Crossley the scope to be the best ruckman in this draft.Strengths:
Recovery after ruck contests rare
Followup work with ground-ball winning and tackling exceptional
Freakish cleanness at ground level for someone his height/size
Roves off a contest like a small
Physical impact around the ball
Strength
Bodywork in the contest
AgileWeaknesses:
Endurance
Leap
Acceleration

12. Callum Coleman-Jones (SA)
Best position: Ruck/key forwardHeight, weight: 199cm, 98kgRecruited from: SturtProjected draft range: first to second roundSimilar to: Toby NankervisJuly Ranking: 8Rationale: Big body who can take a mark, find a lot of the ball around the ground and has the performances on the board both through the ruck and up forward. Appears an ideal relieving ruckman. Out for the season with knee surgery to solve a patella issue, but has done more than enough.Strengths:
Contested marking
Strong hands overhead
Intercept marking
Reading of the flight
Size
Strength
Physicality
Clean at ground level
Disposal numbers per game through the ruck
Scoreboard impact
Taps to advantage
Mobility
Production
Prolific both as a key forward and ruckman
Very advanced game for ageWeaknesses:
Poor leap
Lacks explosiveness
Awkward kicking style

13. Sam Hayes (VIC)

Best position: Ruck/key forwardHeight, weight: 203cm, 93kgRecruited from: Eastern RangesProjected draft range: first roundSimilar to: Matthew KreuzerJuly Ranking: 7Rationale: Continues to perform strongly through the ruck and present a marking option when he pushes forward. While Hayes is the most advanced ruckman at this stage, by position he lacks one dominating element to his game to suggest he'll be a star.Strengths:
Taps to advantage
Often takes ball out of ruck contest himself
Football smarts
Vice-like hands overhead, taking marks at the highest point
Contested marking
Body-on-body strength
Marking on the lead
Scoreboard impact
Finds the ball around the ground
Production
Advanced game for age
Mobile
Capable as ruckman or key forwardWeaknesses:
Pressure defensively
Only average leaper
Lacks a point of difference

Best position: General forward/outside midfieldHeight, weight: 178cm, 76kgRecruited from: Oakleigh ChargersProjected draft range: first roundSimilar to: Lewis TaylorJuly Ranking: 12Rationale: Continuing to perform both as a midfielder and forward to a high level. Only drops slightly with the rises of Naughton and Clavarino.Strengths:
One touch at ground level
Natural crumbing forward
Kicking skills on both sides of the body
Goal sense
Lowers his eyes and hits forward 50m targets
Plays taller than his height with his overhead marking
Capable one-on-one mark
Tackling pressure
Plays well as forward or midfielder
Production
Leap
Agility
Endurance
Work rate
Work ethic
Consistent performerWeaknesses:
Impact per possession low as midfielder

Best position: Inside midfieldHeight, weight: 185cm, 84kgRecruited from: Geelong FalconsProjected draft range: first to second roundSimilar to: Brad SewellJuly Ranking: 15Rationale: Dominant stoppage work and contested ball winning sees Worpel hold his position.Strengths:
Stoppage specialist
Powerful tackler
Contested ball winning
Clearances
Strong build
Strength through the hips allows Worpel to stand up when tackled and deliver a clean handball to a target without going to ground
Powerful fend offs
Courageous
Can hit the ball at speed and win it at full pace
Consistent performer
Acceleration
Agility
Leadership
Able to play forward and hit the scoreboardWeaknesses:
Unreliable kick

16. Nicholas Coffield (VIC)

Best position: General defence/inside midfieldHeight, weight: 190cm, 83kgRecruited from: Northern KnightsProjected draft range: first to second roundSimilar to: Jackson NelsonJuly Ranking: 14Rationale: One of the few players this year with genuine class and composure with ball in hand. At his height and with his mix of attributes has the scope to develop into a midfielder with time. Just needs to start winning more of the ball in the contest and develop greater consistency from game to game.Strengths:
Sidestepping and composure in traffic
Sound decision maker in traffic
Classy ball user and clean kick over a variety of distances
Agility
Clean at ground level
Intercept marking
ProductionWeaknesses:
Having played mostly back, he remains somewhat unproven as a midfielder other than for short periods
Contested ball winning
Stoppage work
Inconsistent production from game to game.

17. Jaidyn Stephenson (VIC)Best position: Outside midfieldHeight, weight: 189cm, 76kgRecruited from: Eastern RangesProjected draft range: first roundSimilar to: Kamdyn McIntoshJuly Ranking: 13Rationale: Stephenson's continued inconsistency sees him drop slightly. Has had his best moments as a tall, line-breaker on a wing.Strengths:
High leaper
Aerial marking threat
Clean at ground level
Takes on the game with his run and is a genuine line breaker
Acceleration
Agility
Tackling pressure
Reading of ruck taps
Composed with ball in hand
Vision
Versatility to play wing, forward or on the ball for patches as neededWeaknesses:
Hands overhead inconsistent
Strength
Consistency from game to game
Kicking mildly inconsistency

20. Lochie O'Brien (VIC)Best position: Outside midfieldHeight, weight: 184cm, 75kgRecruited from: Bendigo PioneersProjected draft range: first roundSimilar to: Jimmy ToumpasJuly Ranking: 18Rationale: Does damage on the outside by foot and with his run. Finds enough of the ball but would be higher if he won more contested ball.Strengths:
Arguably the best kick in the draft with his precision, variety of kicks he can execute, hurt factor and dual sided kicking
Lowers eyes
Vision
Decision Making
Line breaker
Acceleration
Evasiveness
Agility
Overhead marking
Production
Versatility to play midfield or on flanks at either endWeaknesses:
Stoppage work
Contested ball winning